Nature in Art

We are constantly adding to our knowledge of Wallsworth Hall, which features in Simon Jenkins’ book ‘England’s 1000 Best Houses’. An updated edition of our ‘History of Wallsworth Hall’ booklet will be published in mid 2008.

 

A short history of the Wallsworth Hall.

 

Wallsworth Hall has a curiously obscure history. The name dates back to 1200 and means 'the enclosure of Walh the Welshman'. It was built soon after 1740 by Samuel Hayward, a local businessman, landowner and magistrate. A memorial stone to him and his wife Catherine (and their two children) can be found in Gloucester Cathedral .The painting of the Hall set in the overmantle in Gallery One is a copy of an engraving made in 1772 for Samuel Rudder's famous book, 'A New History of Gloucestershire' (published 1779) and depicts the Hall as it was in Samuel Haywards day (below middle). It was built on the site of a timbered house (probably Tudor), parts of which still remain today. The oldest part of the building faces up the side garden and is built of locally made bricks laid as 'headers' (with their ends showing on the outside). The quoins are sandstone. The main front was added a little later and has several architectural features typical of the period. It has a central and slightly projecting third with three circular windows for the attic, also in 'header' brickwork and stone quoins, supported each side by a more usual arrangement of brickwork that is a variant of English bond. The two porch pillars and pediment are decorated with the typical, but now scarce, 'icicle pattern' stonework which is typical of the mid 1700's (below right). Inside, many of the original features still survive, including the magnificent staircase. A fine example of its period, the carved twisted 'barley sugar' balusters, newels, hand rails and moulded underside are all made in mahogany. The house was later bequeathed to Samuel Hayward's son-in-law, a de Winton, because Samuel's son died when only seven years old.

From 1803 - 1903 the de Winton family lived at Wallsworth Hall whose estate included local farms in Sandhurst and Twigworth totalling 655 acres. In common with many owners of great houses in Victorian times, they made changes to the building. Some of these were carried out by Thomas Fulljames of Foscombe in 1865. He added a top floor, a new roof, two extensions and the off-centre bell tower.  The de Winton coat of arms , carved in stone, was set in the outside wall of one of the extensions, now the south end of Gallery One. Also a wooden coat of arms is above the door at the bottom of the main stairs. Their motto 'Look unto Thyself' is inscribed in ancient Welsh. About the same time, the fine 'Carton Pierre' (papier mache) ceiling with its unusual combination of images was installed in the entrance hall (above left), probably by French craftsmen who were known to be in the County at the time. The picture below shows the de Winton household around the turn of the century.

        

As with the staircase, mahogany panelling was a feature of the building. The entrance Hall was once fitted up with unpolished mahogany and the fireplace, now painted, is in the same wood. Around the end of the 19th century much of the woodwork within the building, some of which is also in oak, was painted. The unusual fire surround and overmantle in Gallery One is an original feature which has had its many layers of paint removed (above left). Little is known about this impressive piece, but it is thought to be contemporary to the building. Made of pine, it was probably made by a local maker called Swan who was influenced by Italian and Flemish styles. The carved bulrushes and 'running water' are particularly appropriate for Nature in Art.

 
In 1903 the whole estate was offered for sale. It was split up and Wallsworth Hall (above left 1930's), after failing to find a purchaser at auction, was bought by an industrialist from the midlands, a Mr Dorrington, together with its extensive stabling, three lawn tennis courts, a fives court, two kitchen gardens, a conservatory, vinery and apiary, a brew house and baking oven. Sadly, none of these features remained at the time Nature in Art Trust purchased Wallsworth Hall. As with the de Wintons before him, Mr Dorrington made improvements including installing a diesel generator for electric light and updating the drainage and water supply systems.

 

After the Dorringtons, the Hall was purchased by Gloucester City Corporation during the second World War at the instigation of the government who used it as a residential nursery to care for infants whose mothers were working as part of the war effort (above right). With a fully qualified staff, it was also used a centre for training nursery nurses and remained so until 1953. The house then fell into private hands and rather than reverting to a fine family home, spent much of the time empty, part of the time as a furniture store for a local auction house and part of the time as maisonettes.

 

In 1987 Nature in Art Trust bought Wallsworth Hall. Much of the fabric of the building had suffered more than had at first been thought and renovation work took 12 months to complete. Serious outbreaks of dryrot and other common (though potentially disastrous) ailments had to be carefully and comprehensively tackled whilst retaining the original features and without disturbing in the roof one of the largest bat roosts in the County. Finally the building was made suitable for the display and storage of art. A series of exhibition spaces of character and quality were created and a new era in the history of Wallsworth Hall began